Ejowvokoghene Oduduru

Ejowvokoghene Oduduru
Personal information
Nationality  Nigeria
Born (1996-10-07) 7 October 1996
Ughelli, Delta State, Nigeria
Sport
Country  Nigeria
Sport Athletics
Sprint 100 m, 200 m
Club NSCDC
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s) 100 m: 10.25 s (2016)
200 m: 20.34 s (2016)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Nigeria
All-Africa Games
2015 Brazzaville 200 m
World Junior Championships
2014 Oregon 200 m
African Junior Championships
2015 Addis Ababa 100 m
2015 Addis Ababa 200 m
2015 Addis Ababa 4 x 100 m
2013 Bambous 200 m
2013 Bambous 4 x 100 m
African Youth Championships
2013 Warri 100 m
2013 Warri 200 m
2013 Warri Medley relay
Updated on 18 August 2016.

Ejowvokoghene Divine Oduduru (born October 7, 1996 in Ughelli, Delta State) is a Nigerian sprinter.[1]

He is a five-time African Junior Champion and was the 2014 World Junior Silver Medallist in the 200 metres. He was the gold medalist in both the 100 metres and 200 metres at the 2013 African Youth Athletics Championships.[2] He was a finalist in the 200 m at the 2013 World Youth Championships in Athletics. He won the 200 m at the 2013 African Junior Championships and was also a member of the Gold medal winning 4 × 100 m relay quartet.[3] He successfully defended his 200 m title at the 2015 African Junior Championships and also added the 100 m and 4 × 100 m gold medals to his tally.[4] This made him a five-time African Junior Champion.

In 2014, he dipped under 21 s for the first time. He became the Nigerian National Champion in the 200 metres.[5] After setting a PB of 20.66 s in the semifinals at the 2014 World Junior Championships, he went on to win the silver medal in a windy 20.25 s behind Trentavis Friday of the USA. He led off the Nigerian 4x100 metres relay team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, a team supported by former American athletes, Monzavous Edwards and Mark Jelks, who were running for Nigeria in their first international relay.[6][7]

Due to illness, he pulled out of the 2015 Nigerian Championships and was not able to defend his 200 m title. He however bounced back for the All-Africa Games in Brazzaville. Oduduru ran a PB of 20.45 s into a headwind of 1.2 m/s to win the silver medal behind Ivorian sprinter, Hua Wilfried Koffi.[8] His team mate and 2015 Nigerian champion Tega Odele placed third. Oduduru was selected for the 200 m at the 2016 African Championships in Durban. After posting the second fastest time in the semifinals, he did not run in the finals due to injury.[9]

Oduduru is also known for his interviews. His interviews in Donetsk at the 2013 World Youth Championships in Athletics are popular among fans of athletics. The phrases, 'deadly day' and 'never expected it' are associated with him.[10][11] Memes and videos have been generated using his responses to journalists. He lamented the inadequate support for Nigerian athletes and made a plea for sponsorship during the 2016 Nigeria Championships.[12]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/nigeria/ejowvokoghene-divine-oduduru-280594
  2. ↑ "African Athletics » Nigeria's Oduduru all fired up for Ouagadougou next week". www.africanathletics.org. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
  3. ↑ "IAAF: Ethiopian and Nigerian athletes impress at African Junior Champs| News | iaaf.org". iaaf.org. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
  4. ↑ "IAAF: 5000m double for hosts Ethiopia at African Junior Championships| News | iaaf.org". iaaf.org. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
  5. ↑ "Divine Oduduru, 200m World Junior Silver Medallist vying for African Crown!". Making of Champions. 2014-08-08. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
  6. ↑ "Glasgow 2014 - Ejowvokoghene Oduduru Profile". g2014results.thecgf.com. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
  7. ↑ http://www.bbc.com/sport/commonwealth-games/2014/results/sports/athletics/mens-4x100m-relay
  8. ↑ "IAAF: Kenya's 4x400m men finish off the All-Africa Games in style| News | iaaf.org". iaaf.org. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
  9. ↑ Olus, Yemi (2016-07-09). "Divine Oduduru storms to 200m title at Nigerian Trials in Sapele". MAKING OF CHAMPIONS. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
  10. ↑ IAAF Official (2013-07-13), WYC Donetsk 2013 - Ejowvokoghene Divine ODUDURU NGR - 200m Boys - Semi-final, retrieved 2016-07-20
  11. ↑ IAAF Official (2013-07-12), WYC Donetsk 2013 - Ejowvokoghene Divine ODUDURU NGR - 200m Boys - Heat, retrieved 2016-07-20
  12. ↑ MakingOf Champs (2016-07-11), "Nigerian Athletes are Suffering!" - Divine cries out to Sponsors to come to their rescue!!!, retrieved 2016-07-20
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